Bad Manners: Bad Manners

Bad Manners: Bad Manners

1981

MCA Records

Format I Own it on: Vinyl

Track Listing: 1. Lorraine  2. Special Brew  3. Just A Feeling  4. King Ska-Fa  5. Suicide   6. Lip Up Fatty  7. El Pussycat  8. Here Comes The Major  9. Spy I  10. Tequila  11. Inner London Violence 12.
Fattie Fattie



I know I just did the Bad Manners a post a coupla days ago, and I should be moving forward, but I just picked this up last Friday from Revolver Records and decided to write it up now, rather than wait until next January...

There's not much information on this release online, but as far as I can determine, this is Bad Manners' American debut. It's a compilation that collects some of the best moments from the band's first two albums, probably designed to introduce us Journey-lovin' Americans to the ska boom that was all the rage in England.

 

 Needless to say it didn't work (unless perhaps the 1997 US ska-craze was a  ridiculously delayed reaction).  Journey's "Escfourpeethree" ended up a smash hit and to this day, most Americans still have no idea who Bad Manners are. Which is waaaay too bad. 

 I haven't heard every Bad Manners album by a long shot, but I'm confident in saying this would be a fine place for anyone to start...The instrumentals are kept to a minimum, as this compilation focuses  its attention to the band's pop side, which is undoubtedly what they do best. Songs like "Special Brew," "Lip Up Fatty" and "Lorraine" are  perfect pop singles, in my pop-lovin' opinion.  

 The abundance of quality ska here is astounding. It's a massive shame that the band has been  largely written out of rock history and relegated to the dreaded "novelty" bin. Just because something is fun doesn't mean that it isn't worthwhile, especially when the playing and songwriting is this consistently spectacular. Silliness should not exclude greatness.

I can tell you, from experience, that spending an evening drinking a good beer, and skanking along to "Fattie Fattie" is one of those rare things that makes you feel extra happy to be alive. The giddiness in the grooves invariably radiates into your Friday night,  giving your party that elusive holy glow. The chip dip positively glistens with possibility...

Whereas spending Friday night listening to "I'm Too Sexy" or  Crazy Frog will only make you feel ashamed the next morning...

 
That shame is what separates a fun song from a novelty track.  Fun can be experienced again and again, whereas novelty is strictly "use once and destroy"...

 So let's just pour ourselves a  pint of brew...

 ...and listen to "Special Brew" by Bad Manners...Hell, play it twice, if you like...It's durable. It'll hold up...